| location | |
 | |
| flag | |
 | |
| Short dates | |
| Capital | Madrid |
|---|---|
| Form of government | Parliamentary monarchy |
| currency | Euro (EUR) |
| surface | 505,000 km² |
| population | 47.1 million |
| languages | Castilian 74%, Catalan 17%, Galician 7%, Basque 2% |
| Religions | Roman Catholic 94% |
| power grid | 230 V / 50 Hz |
| Phone code | 34 |
| Internet TLD | .it |
| Time zone | ME (S) Z |
Spain located in Southern Europe. It shares together with Portugal the Iberian Peninsula. Once a world power with colonies in Medium- and South America as well as the Philippines, Spain went through a difficult time in the 20th century due to civil war and dictatorship. At the latest since the democratization after 1975 and the accession to the European Union in 1986 the difficult years are over; Spain has become a tourist magnet with its beaches, nightlife and cultural diversity. It also benefits from its sunny and dry weather.
Regions
The total of 17 regions of Spain will be called autonomous communities (comunidades autónomas), in the map on the right is the Madrid metropolitan area highlighted:
- Andalusia is the southernmost region of Europe with well-known coastlines along the Mediterranean and the Atlantic
- Aragon in the north and inland, very original and far from the tourist crowds
- Asturias (Spanish Principado de Asturias), on the north coast with a temperate climate with frequent rain and mild temperatures
- Balearic Islands (Spanish Las Islas Baleares, Balearic Les Illes Balears), the archipelago in the Mediterranean
- Basque Country (Spanish El País Vasco, Basque Euskadi), a small autonomous region in the north near the border with France, which is repeatedly conspicuous for its striving for independence
- Extremadura inland on the border with Portugal, too Tierra de Conquistadores (Country / Home of the Conquerors) called
- Galicia in the north-west, very interesting, fjord-like estuaries into the Atlantic and the core of the Way of St. James: Santiago de Compostela
- Canary Islands (Spanish Las Islas Canarías), in the Atlantic off the West African coast
- Cantabria, one of the small autonomous communities, consists of only one province, is located in the north by the sea and is important in domestic tourism
- Castile-La Mancha located between Madrid and the Mediterranean Sea, is home to Don Quixote and the windmills
- Castile and Leon lies north of Madrid in the direction of the Atlantic on the Meseta plateau, historically evolved from the kingdoms of Castile and León
- Catalonia (Spanish Cataluña, Catalan Catalunya), in the very north-east of the country with several well-known Mediterranean beaches, extends to the Pyrenees
- La Rioja, small region in the north, known for its red wine
- Murcia, sunniest and therefore constantly scarce region on the Mediterranean
- Navarre, small, prosperous province in the north and inland near the French border
- Valencia (Spanish Comunidad Valenciana, Valencian Comunitat Valenciana), three provinces that stretch along the Mediterranean Sea
There are also the two autonomous cities that are exclaves in North Africa: Ceuta in the Strait of Gibraltar and Melilla further east. Conversely, there is the British exclave on the Spanish side Gibraltar.
Cities
| Map of spain |
Spain has many cities that are interesting for tourists. The following are very important:
- Madrid - Capital of the country, lively city with great museums and wild nights.
- Barcelona - Capital Catalonia, a lively and cosmopolitan city. Famous for the architecture by Antoni Gaudi.
- Valencia - here was the Paella invented. The Jardin del Turia and the Ciudad de las Artes y de las Ciencias (City of Arts and Sciences) are also very special.
- Seville - owns the third largest cathedral in the world.
- Alicante - Popular holiday resort on the Costa Blanca with the Explanada de España promenade.
- Bilbao - Former industrial city with Guggenheim Museum.
- Cordoba - Capital of the former Moorish Spain. Largest mosque in Western Europe. Ruined city of Medina Azahara (residence of the emir).
- Granada - Moorish capital of the country until 1492 with the Alhambra. Third largest university after Madrid and Barcelona.
- Las Palmas de Gran Canaria - Capital of the Canary Islands.
- Málaga - Located in Andalusia by the sea, one of the most popular holiday destinations in Spain.
- Palma de Mallorca - Capital of Mallorca with a beautiful cityscape and the Gothic cathedral.
- Salamanca - a picturesque, old university town.
- Santiago de Compostela - Pilgrimage destination in Galicia.
- Zaragoza - has the largest baroque building in Spain, the Basilica del Pilar.
- Toledo - a cosmopolitan city with Christian, Jewish and Muslim features as early as the Moors; also known from the painter El Greco.
- More cities in the region articles or in the list of Places in Spain
Other goals
- El Arenosillo - is a sounding rocket launch site near Huelva
- Empuriabrava - Largest marina in Europe on the northern Costa Brava. Long sandy beach.
Spanish coast
Along the Mediterranean, from north to south, there is a continuous series of well-known coastal stretches, many of which have been heavily developed for tourism, some of which have been completely built up and a few still have quiet, original sections or nature reserves. The boundaries of the "Costas" almost always coincide with those of the provinces:
- Costa Brava (Wild Coast) in the Province of Girona in northern Catalonia, from the French border to approximately the mouth of the Tordera river near Blanes (220 km)
- Costa del Maresme, 60 km long strip in the Barcelona Province north of the metropolis
- Costa del Garraf (after the comarca of the same name), south of Barcelona in the same province, formerly also part of the Daurada
- Costa Daurada (Golden Coast), 216 km from the Tarragona Province until Ebro Delta
- Costa del Azahar, also Costa dels Tarongers called (Coast of the Orange Blossom or Orange Tree Coast), along the provinces Castellón and Valencia
- Costa Blanca (White Coast), along the Alicante province, the name refers to both the white houses and the sand
- Costa Cálida (Hot / Warm Coast), around 200 km in the hottest province of Spain Murcia
- Costa de Almeria, around 200 km in the Almeria Province, many almost uninhabited stretches of coastline and nature parks, but also kilometer-long greenhouses for Europe's vegetables
- Costa Tropical (tropical coast) in the Granada province, well-protected, well-known holiday region by the adjacent mountain ranges
- Costa del Sol (Sun coast), in the Málaga Province, pleasant temperatures all year round, many tourist strongholds
- Costa Gaditana, named "Gaditano" after the inhabitants of the province of Cadiz, stretches from the Comarca Campo de Gibraltar to Tarifa
The closes at the Atlantic Costa de la Luz on the coastal strip of the two provinces Cadiz and Huelva represents and ends at Portugal.
North of Portugal there are still those on the Atlantic
- Rías Baixas (Lower Rías), fjord-like estuaries in Galicia, known for raising mussels
- Costa da Morte (Death Coast), from the Cape of Darkness to Malpica de Bergantiños, difficult for seafaring because of the rocky sections
- Costa Ártabra, 6 km wide bay with several river mouths
- Rías Altas (Upper Rías), estuaries reaching deep inland, are also part of it Galicia
- Costa Verde (green coast), rainy and therefore deep green coastline in the region Asturias
- Costa de Cantabria, located in Cantabria, this is also a well-known wine region
- Costa Vasca (Basque Coast), lies in the Basque Provinces Bizkaia and Gipuzkoa, to the French border in the department Pyrénées-Atlantiques
Spanish islands
The Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean with the main island Mallorca, the little sister Menorca in the east and the islands to the west Ibiza and Formentera.
The Canary Islands off the west African coast: Tenerife, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, La Palma, La Gomera and El Hierro.
background
getting there
Entry requirements
Spain is part of the Schengen area: nationals from the participating countries have to carry an identity document with them, whereby an identity card or passport is also accepted if it has not expired for more than 1 year. It is recommended that documents are valid, especially when traveling by air. Citizens of the states mentioned can stay in the country and work indefinitely. Other citizens need a valid passport and, if necessary, a visa or work permit.
By train
The expansion of the high-speed networks in France and Spain has significantly reduced travel times by train from Germany and Switzerland. On the other hand, night train connections have been dropped, so that arriving by train has not really become more convenient. There are two relevant level crossings between France and Spain, west and east of the Pyrenees.
The transition in the high-speed network east of the Pyrenees is included Perpignan and Figueres. There are several high-speed trains (TGV) from Paris to Barcelona via Valence, Nîmes and Montpellier. These are used for most connections by Germany used to Spain: For example, you need from Karlsruhe to Barcelona around 11 hours, from Frankfurt am Main or Stuttgart a good 11½ hours, from Cologne almost 12 hours (departure between 8.40 a.m. and 9.30 a.m., arrival in Barcelona around 8.35 p.m.). In Paris, a change of train station from Gare de l’Est or Gare du Nord to Gare de Lyon is necessary. In Barcelona there is then a connection to other parts of Spain. A trip to Madrid takes at least 14 hours from Germany.
Of the Switzerland There are various connections from here: via Paris-Gare de Lyon (no change of train station necessary), via Lyon (and possibly Nîmes) or via Mulhouse and Valence. For example, the fastest connection from Basel to Barcelona takes 9 hours, from Bern 9½ hours, from Zurich 11 hours. Madrid can be reached from Basel in just over 12 hours.
An alternative route leads over Irun and the neighboring French town of Hendaye, west of the Pyrenees. A transition from the French TGV to the Iberian broad-gauge network is possible there. This route is particularly relevant for travelers with destinations in the north or west of Spain (and further towards Portugal). Hendaye can be reached by TGV from Paris-Gare Montparnasse via Bordeaux. The travel time from Basel is 9 hours, from Karlsruhe 9:30 hours, from Frankfurt a. M. 9:45 hours, from Bern or Cologne 10 hours. In Hendaye there is a connection to the night train to Lisbon. You can also take the local train between the two stations EuskoTren or take a taxi. In Irun there is a connection to Donostia / San Sebastián, Vitoria / Gasteiz, Burgos, Valladolid, Salamanca, Pamplona, Santiago de Compostela, A Coruña.
On the website of the Spanish State Railways RENFE Connections can be found, but apart from the Spanish train stations, there are only a handful of train stations in other European countries. Alternatively, you can also use the Deutsche Bahn travel information reiseauskunft.bahn.de for route planning, also within Spain.
In contrast to the Spanish pages, the DB or the SBB deliver a complete route proposal from the departure station to the destination station, even if this connection requires a change. If you want to determine the travel price, you can click the route you have found on the Spanish pages by hand and find out the costs and the type of train.
Tip: Reservations are required for all long-distance trains. So book well in advance. At the train station it can happen that you have to wait a long time at the counter. You pull a number from a machine and wait for your turn. In Madrid and Barcelona there can be a waiting time of up to 4 hours in summer. You should therefore choose a connecting train that does not arrive too early.
By bus
There are intercity bus connections from major German cities to Spain, e.g. with EurolinesFrom Saarland or the Palatinate, coaches run weekly to the Costa Brava, with which you can travel without having to book a complete trip, e.g. with Anton Götten Travel.
By boat
Provides a lot of information about ferry lines and the ships used to Spain as well as booking options and tips about the ship journey Ferryknowhow.info.On Aferry.de There are countless ferry connections to and from Spain.Ferryto.com provides information on ferry connections from Great Britain to Spain. Ferry lines run from Portsmouth to Bilbao (AT Ferries; P&O) and by Plymouth to Santander.
In the street
No matter from which point Germany, Of Austria or the Switzerland you always start - the journey to Spain can take a day or more. It is recommended that there are at least two drivers in the car. For route suggestions through France, please France: car referenced. There is a fee to use most Spanish motorways. The distances traveled are paid for with a ticket system. For a distance of around 100 km you have to plan around 10 euros for a car or motorcycle. Individual city highways can be free of charge.
By plane
The largest Spanish airline today is Iberia. There are also many other scheduled airlines and low-cost carriers. The two major international hubs of Spain are Madrid and Barcelona. Virtually all airports in Spain are run by the state AENA (Aeropuertos Españoles y Navegación Aérea). Their central customer hotline can be reached at 902 404 704.
Meanwhile there are from Germany from numerous offers to many cities in Spain:
- Lufthansa also flies from many German cities to some Spanish destinations.
- EasyJet offers connections from Dortmund to Alicante as well as from Berlin to Barcelona, Madrid and Valencia.
- Germanwings offers cheap flights from Cologne / Bonn and Stuttgart to Barcelona, Madrid, Málaga and Jerez.
- Ryanair flies from Frankfurt-Hahn, Karlsruhe-Baden and Niederrhein / Weeze to Barcelona-Girona; also from Frankfurt-Hahn to Barcelona-Reus, Granada, Barcelona-Girona, Valencia, Santander (Northern Spain) and Jerez de la Frontera (Andalusia). There are flights to Alicante, Girona, Palma de Mallorca (only in the main season) and Málaga from Bremen.
There are flight connections from Switzerland from:
- Zurich to Alicante, Barcelona, Tenerife, Ibiza, Jerez de la Frontera, Lanzarote, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Madrid, Málaga, Palma de Mallorca, Fuerteventura, Santiago de Compostela and Valencia.
- Basel-Mulhouse to Alicante, Barcelona, Tenerife, Ibiza, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Madrid, Málaga, Menorca, Palma de Mallorca, Fuerteventura and Santiago de Compostela.
- Geneva with Alicante, Asturias / Oviedo, Barcelona, Bilbao, Lanzarote, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Madrid, Málaga, Palma de Mallorca, Seville, Santiago de Compostela and Valencia.
- Bern to Barcelona, Ibiza, Menorca and Palma de Mallorca.
Other things
Historical travel routes
- Via de la Plata, the ancient Roman road that transported gold to Seville from northwestern Spain.
- The Way of St. James to Santiago de Compostela.
mobility
By train
RENFE
The RENFE(Spanish) (State Railways of Spain) operates several high-speed rail lines (AVE). These are built in European standard gauge. The most important are:
- Madrid-Barcelona (2h 45'-3h 10 ')
- Madrid-Seville (2h 30 ')
- Madrid-Valencia (1h 40 ')
- Madrid-Málaga (2h 30'-2h 50 ')
In addition, RENFE also offers rail connections to other large cities. The rail network is, by and large, a centralized structure. Most connections are to and from Madrid. On the Mediterranean coast, however, there is a direct train line (no direct trains) from Perpignan on the Spanish border via Barcelona - Valencia to Alicante, but it does not always run directly along the coast. There is also a railway line that runs from Bilbao to Barcelona via Saragossa, but not via Madrid.
Since savings are currently being made in Spain, RENFE also had to believe in it. Many timetables have been thinned out, some connections have been canceled entirely. The high-speed lines of the AVE are of course not affected, these are also prestige projects of the Spanish state. Therefore, if you want to travel by train in Spain, you have to plan ahead.
FEVE
The FEVE(Spanish) (Schmalspuhrbahn) operates some lines in northern Spain. So between Ferrol and Bilbao, which also serves Santander, and a line between Bilbao and Léon. However, there is only one connection per day on this route, which takes over 6 hours. In general, the FEVE connections are generally slower than those of the RENFE.
EuskoTren
EuskoTren(Spanish, Basque) operates a number of lines in the Basque Country. But above all between Bilbao and Donostia / San Sebastian and on to Hendaye in France.
FGC
The Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya abbreviated FGC operates in addition to parts of the suburban traffic of Barcelona also some standard-gauge lines that they have taken over from the RENFE. It is so-called the Catalan State Railways and is a large service provider in public transport in Catalonia.
Long-distance buses
The long-distance bus network is, in contrast to the star-shaped train network oriented towards Madrid, well-developed and efficiently organized. The line operators of certain routes are licensed and offer (not necessarily cheap) fixed prices that allow small discounts for return journeys. The biggest company AS A offers many long-distance lines and also cooperates with other companies.
Bus stations in larger cities usually have a cafe, toilets that are not always well-maintained (usually without paper) and lockers. In the case of the latter, it should be noted that usually during the counter opening hours (7.00 / 8.00–22.00 / 23.00) a token (ficha) that applies to the respective calendar day. If you don't collect your luggage until the next day, you have to buy another token to open the compartment.
Individual transport
There is in Spain Autopistas (Autobahn, AP xx), Autovias (Expressways, A xx), National roads (N xxx) and Country roads (Code letter depends on the respective Comunidad, e.g. CM in Castilla-La Mancha xxx).
The highways Autopistas and Autovias differ only slightly. The top speed on the autopistas is up 120 km / h limited, this speed limit also applies to the car vias.
The advantage of usually toll autopistas Compared to the car vias, this is usually less traffic (fewer entrances / exits) and the consistently high quality of the roads, which are forbidden for non-motorized traffic. At Autovias there are fluctuations here, especially on the older, adapted national roads, the entrances and exits in built-up areas are more frequent, single-lane routes are shorter, hard shoulder lanes can be missing and traffic can be hindered by slow vehicles.
In Spain there is a speed limit of 50 km / h in urban areas, 90 km / h on single lane national roads (otherwise 100 km / h) and on country roads the speed limit is also 90 km / h.
It should be noted that private towing is punished in Spain. Only towing companies are authorized to do so.
The toll on motorways is around € 10 per 100 kilometers. Payments are made at toll stations on the motorway, similar to Italy or France, where motorways are also owned by private companies. In addition to cash, the usual credit cards are also accepted, but no Maestro cards. Those who frequently drive on motorways in Spain can also have the costs debited automatically and then drive slowly through a separate lane without waiting. The arrows on the traffic signs often point downwards instead of upwards, i.e. backwards.
A special feature is the left turn in Spain. The lanes for this are usually on the right-hand side and then lead across the street at a right angle. You also have to watch out for the traffic lights, which there are in large numbers in larger cities, sometimes there are four traffic lights within fifty meters.
Other important regulations in road traffic are:
- The alcohol limit of 0.5 ‰,
- the obligation to wear seat belts at the front and back.
- the ban on telephoning behind the wheel, which can be really expensive in Spain with a fine of 600 €.
- The rental car or your own car must also be included two Warning triangles and a safety vest.
- Within the towns, the main road always has the right of way, even if the give way sign is not at every intersection.
It should be noted that fines for violations can be high by German standards. There are fewer controls for this. In general, if you transfer a ticket within 20 days, only half the fine is due.
In many travel guides and also at the ADAC it is reported that in Spain the law of the fittest applies on the street. It's not that bad anymore and red lights are usually respected these days. Nevertheless, the frequency of accidents is above average, and if you look around a parking lot, you will find countless vehicles with severe scratches and sheet metal damage.
The Spanish love for roundabouts and speed limit signs should also be mentioned. At intersections with heavy traffic, roundabouts are always the cause of accidents, as vehicles driving from the inside to the outside are often cut, unfortunately a cautious driving style does not protect here either. Speed limit signs are not always used very consistently, leaving the driver wondering how fast they can drive. When in doubt, drive slowly to be on the safe side.
language
Since tourism is one of the main sources of income in Spain, one comes in the larger tourist centers with German and English reasonably right. In the rural areas it is advisable to take a few chunks Spanish (Castilian) to master. Along with Galician, Catalan and Basque, Castilian is the official language throughout Spain and is spoken by almost every Spaniard, as it is taught as a compulsory subject in school. In the autonomous regions of Spain, especially in Catalonia and the Basque Country, Catalan (catalán) and Basque (vasco, euskera) are also predominant as additional official languages. Road signs are also labeled in the regional language. During the time of the Franco dictatorship, these regional languages were suppressed, but were able to survive as they continued to be used by the population in private circles and are now spoken with great pride. Some of the place names were changed from Spanish to Catalan, e.g. B. Playa de Aro on Platja d'Aro, although the national Spanish press continues to use the Spanish names.
The language Spanish belongs to the Romance languages and has therefore developed on the basis of Latin. Due to the centuries-old Moorish occupation of the country, Spanish has enjoyed a strong Arabic influence and there are a variety of words that are of Arabic origin (alhambra, almohada [pillow], alfombra [carpet]). Spanish orthography essentially follows pronunciation, i.e. H. a word is written in compliance with the Spanish pronunciation rules i. d. Typically written as it is spoken.
Learning Spanish is not only worthwhile for travel. Since Spanish is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world, mastering this language can also be useful in your job. It opens up Central and South America as well as large parts of the USA, where Spanish is on the way to becoming a second official language. Relics of Spanish can also be found in some of the former Spanish colonies in Africa and Southeast Asia.
Names
Every Spaniard has two surnames (apellidos). The first comes from the father and the second from the mother. Both names are required when filling out documents. Both names are retained upon marriage. This law also applies in Latin America.
shop
Shopping or shopping has changed all over Spain in the past few years. Until not so long ago there were actually only small shops, mostly family businesses, which brought all kinds of goods to men and women and which mostly specialized in a very specific, small group of goods, now shopping centers have found their way here that offer goods of all kinds on ample sales space. Unfortunately, that has changed the nice family atmosphere in the shops, on the other hand it has also significantly expanded the range of goods and the shopping has been modernized.
Spain is a country in the euro zone. Card payments are widespread. Off the beaten track and off the beaten track in the big cities, you should expect that only cash payments are possible and larger notes are not accepted for small amounts.
kitchen
Typical for Spain are tapas, small bites to eat with wine or beer. The name comes from "lid". In the past, a little something to eat was placed on the glass by the host, like a lid. In many bars there is an ample selection of different tapas, from fish to meat to vegetarian. It is well known Tortilla De Patatas (Potato omelette), the Ensaladilla Rusa (potato salad with mayonnaise) and the pincho moruno (Moorish skewer).
The most famous dish in traditional cuisine is the paella Valenciana, a rice pan that is seasoned with saffron to give it its characteristic yellow appearance. The real paella is not made with fish, which some German cooks will hardly understand. Chicken and scallops, on the other hand, are correct.
The word Bodega means "cellar" and used to designate simple wine taverns in cellar vaults, in which cheap wine was poured directly from large barrels into mugs. Now there are many completely normal wine bars that use this name without, however, bearing any resemblance to their role models. Winegrowers may also store their wine in bodegas.
Something very tasty is Chorizo, a sausage that is a bit like a salami.
The price increase has also found its way into Spain; and so dishes in Spanish restaurants are not always cheap. An alternative are restaurants that offer “Raciones” and “Platos combinados”. “Raciones” are more or less half servings of extremely tasty cuts; and whoever chooses under “Platos combinados” receives a combination of different components of Spanish cuisine; there is often a drink and dessert included, and never forget: a reasonable tip - that is left on the plate with which the waiter brings the change.
nightlife
accommodation
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The hotel chain der is a specialty in Spain Paradores, a state hotel chain. About 80 hotels are spread across Spain. A Parador is a three- to five-star hotel that is mostly located in a historical building. The Paradores stand for local history on the one hand and the regional diversity of the country on the other.
Learn
Work
public holidays
There are national, regional and local holidays in Spain. Each municipality can determine up to 14 public holidays per year, whereby up to nine can be specified by the autonomous community. This definition can change from year to year. Attention: If a national holiday falls exceptionally on a Sunday, Monday is work-free.
| Next appointment | Surname | importance |
|---|---|---|
| Saturday 1st January 2022 | Año Nuevo | New Year |
| Thursday, January 6, 2022 | Día de los Reyes, Epifania | Holy Three Kings |
| Thursday April 14, 2022 | Jueves Santo | Maundy Thursday |
| Friday April 15, 2022 | Viernes Santo | Good Friday |
| Monday April 18, 2022 | Lunes de Pascua | Easter Monday |
| Saturday 1st May 2021 | Fiesta del Trabajo | Labor Day |
| Sunday 15th August 2021 | Asuncion de la Virgen | Assumption Day |
| Tuesday, October 12, 2021 | Fiesta Nacional de España | National Day, Anniversary of the Discovery of America |
| Monday 1st November 2021 | Todos los Santos | All Saints Day |
| Monday 6 December 2021 | Día de la Constitución | Constitution Day (Constitution adopted in 1978) |
| Thursday December 9, 2021 | Lunes siguiente a la Inmaculada Concepción | Monday after the Conception of Mary |
| Saturday 25 December 2021 | Natividad del Señor | Christmas |
In the Valencia region will also be the Liberation from the Moors celebrated. This day will Fiesta de San Dionisio called.
security
There are two types of police in Spanish cities: The Policia Local, Traffic police and public order office in one as well as the Policia Nacional, used to be brown nowadays in dark blue uniforms, for real crimes. If these gentlemen wear scarves, it is the riot police, who used to be very violent, who strike at demos.
In the rural regions responsible for everything is the partially barracked Guardia Civil. She has a wide variety of tasks - you can ask pretty much any Spaniard what these are in detail, hardly anyone would know the correct answer. It is easy to say that if no other police force is responsible, then it is the Guardia Civil. Since the other police authorities are limited to cities like the Policia National or localities like the Policia Local, the Guardia Civil is also responsible everywhere in between. In addition, there are all kinds of special tasks: Customs, border protection, aviation security, terrorism, hunting and fishing supervision, etc. With this force, the elite in the fascist state in Franco's time, there are still problems with human rights violations in the 2010s. Sixty percent of the teams are former regular soldiers. Since 2015, dark blue uniforms and baseball caps have been introduced for everyday use.
Catalonia and the Basque Country have their own police forces. Their competencies were taken over by the Policia Nacional or Guardia Civil, but they continue to perform certain tasks in the regions. The Policía Foral are the traffic cops of the Navarre region.
Every now and then, gangs try to trick tourists into stopping by giving information about alleged damage to the vehicle. You should therefore only stop in parking lots in the presence of other drivers or next to emergency telephones to ask for help. There is also a lot of petty crime in the big cities. In the last few years gangs have made a name for themselves, who go on raids in villa areas and often act extremely brutally.
health
- Emergency doctor ☎ 112
The European Health Insurance Card EHIC (Spanish: Tarjeta Sanitaria Europea, TSE) gilt auch in Spanien. Sie wird in allen staatlichen Krankenhäusern (hospital) und Ärztehäusern (centro de salud) auch anstandslos akzeptiert. Viele niedergelassene Ärzte (besonders in Touristenregionen) bestehen hingegen auf privater Behandlung mit Vorauskasse, dabei wird auch gerne behauptet, die Karte gälte in Spanien nicht. Hierbei ist zu beachten, dass dann von der deutschen Kasse nur die gesetzlichen deutschen Regelsätze erstattet werden und das auch nur, wenn die Quittung genaue Diagnosen (meist wird ICD 10-Kodierung gefordert) aufführt. Wer einen Facharzt braucht, geht am besten sofort in ein Krankenhaus, das machen Spanier genauso.
Das komplette Gesundheitssystem in Spanien ist, anders als beispielsweise in Deutschland, für alle Spanier komplett kostenfrei. Dabei ist auch das Einkommen völlig egal, jeder Bürger bekommt genau die gleiche Behandlung. Wandert ein Deutscher nach Malaga aus, dann kann er den Antrag stellen und fällt dann wie ein Spanier unter dieses Schirm der medizinischen Versorgung. Der Urlauber, der durch einen Notfall medizinische Versorgung benötigt, bekommt seine Behandlung bei Vorlage der europäischen Krankenversicherungskarte ebenfalls völlig kostenfrei (Merkblatt). Zahnbehandlungen sind immer kostenpflichtig. Die Provinzen sind in comarcas unterteilt (sie entsprechen etwa den Landkreisen in Deutschland oder den Bezirken in Österreich und Schweiz), jede davon hat ihr eigenes Krankenhaus, das für den Patienten, der in diesem Bezirk erkrankt, zuständig ist.
climate
In Spanien gibt es unterschiedliche Bereiche, was das Klima angeht. Es lassen sich drei klimatische Zonen unterscheiden. Andalusien bis zur Sierra Morena, Granada, die südöstliche Hälfte von Murcia und der südlichste Teil von Valencia gehören zur afrikanischen oder subtropischen Zone. Der größte Teil der Nordküste, die nördlichen Gegenden der Hochebene von Leon and Kastilien und das Plateau von Alava gehören zur mitteleuropäischen oder kälteren gemäßigten Zone. Das übrige Land zählt man zur südeuropäischen oder wärmeren gemäßigten Zone.
In der mitteleuropäischen Zone haben die tiefer gelegenen Gegenden ein sehr angenehmes Klima, in dem die Temperatur selbst im heißesten Sommer nicht leicht über 33 °C steigt, an den kältesten Wintertagen kaum unter -3 °C sinkt und Frost und Schneefall nur vorübergehend auftreten. Die Atmosphäre ist meist feucht, Regen ist besonders im Herbst und Frühling häufig. Die Täler der Nordküste gehören zu den gesündesten Gegenden Europas. Ein ganz anderes Klima herrscht auf den Hochflächen des altkastilischen Tafellandes; hier sind heftiger Frost und starker Schneefall schon im Spätherbst keine Seltenheit und während des Winters ist durch Schneemassen oft wochenlang alle Kommunikation unterbrochen. Im Frühling bedecken kalte Nebel oft tagelang das Land und im Sommer herrscht glühende Hitze, die selten durch Regen gemäßigt wird. Dabei sind in jeder Jahreszeit Stürme häufig. Erst die von Regengüssen begleiteten Stürme bringen dem Plateauland angenehme Witterung. Von Ende September bis November ist der Himmel fast stets unbewölkt, und die Fluren bedecken sich mit frischem Grün; doch oft schon im Oktober machen Frühfröste diesem zweiten Frühling ein Ende.
Einen Gegensatz zu diesem der Gesundheit sehr nachteiligen Klima bieten die innerhalb der südeuropäischen Zone gelegenen Küstenstriche dar, namentlich die Flusstäler Südgaliziens, wo ein gleichmäßiges, mildes Küstenklima herrscht, in dem die mittlere Temperatur des Sommers ungefähr 20 °C, die des Winters 16 °C beträgt und Frost und Schnee selten, Regen und Tau häufig sind. Die Ebenen und Täler der Südost- und Ostküste haben im allgemeinen ein dem des südlichen France entsprechendes, nur wärmeres Küstenklima, doch nicht ohne bedeutende und häufige Temperaturschwankungen. Die afrikanische Zone der Halbinsel ist dadurch ausgezeichnet, dass in ihren Tiefebenen, Küstengegenden und tiefen Tälern Schnee und Frost fast unbekannte Erscheinungen sind, indem die Temperatur höchst selten bis 3 °C sinkt.
Die heißesten Gegenden sind die Südostküste bis Alicante sowie die angrenzenden Ebenen, Hügelgelände und Plateaus von Murcia und Ostgranada. Weit gemäßigter sind die Küstengegenden Niederandalusiens. Der glühend heiße, alle Vegetation versengende Solano (Samum) sucht am häufigsten die südöstlichen Küstenstriche heim. Im übrigen ist das Klima in den niederen Gegenden der afrikanischen Zone ein angenehmes Küstenklima mit einer mittleren Temperatur, die nicht leicht über 24,5 °C steigt oder unter 12 °C fällt. Der eigentliche Frühling beginnt hier Ende Februar und dauert an der Küste bis Mitte Mai, im Innern bis Anfang Juni. Während des Sommers vertrocknet auch hier die Vegetation, wie auch die Äquinoktialregen einen zweiten Frühling hervorzaubern. Dieser zweite Frühling verfließt aber nicht schnell wie im Plateualand, sondern geht durch den angenehm milden Winter in den eigentlichen Frühling über. Die Ebenen und Küstengegenden der afrikanischen Zone haben so gesehen acht Monate Frühling und vier Monate Sommer.
Was die eigentlichen Gebirgsgegenden anlangt, so lassen sich hier fünf Regionen unterscheiden: die untere oder warme (bis 800 m) mit 27-17 °C mittlerer Temperatur, die Bergregion (800-1600 m) mit 16-9 °C, die subalpine Region (1600-2000 m) mit etwa 8-4 °C, die alpine Region (2000-2500 m) mit 3-0 °C, die Schneeregion (2500-3500 m) mit einer mittleren Jahrestemperatur von wahrscheinlich unter 0 °C. In den Pyrenäen findet sich ewiger Schnee nur in der Zentral- und östlichen Kette, wo die Grenze desselben auf der spanischen Seite bei 2780 m liegt. In the Sierra Nevada, dem höchsten Gebirge Spaniens, nimmt man die Schneelinie am Nordabhang bei 3350 m, am Südabhang bei 3500 m an, weshalb hier bloß die höchsten Gipfel, und auch diese sparsam, mit ewigem Schnee bedeckt sind.
respect
Post and Telecommunications
Cellular
Da Spanien Mitglied der EU ist, gibt es keine Telefonie-Roaminggebühren mehr.
Vor allem wenn man etwas länger in Spanien bleibt und in Kontakt mit Einheimischen treten möchte, sollte man vielleicht eine spanische SIM-Karte (auf Guthabenbasis) kaufen, auf Spanisch tarjeta prepago called. Die Karten gibt es für ungefähr 25 € und man kann sie ohne Ausweis in fast jedem Laden besorgen. Je nach Anbieter bekommt man von den Anschaffungskosten mehr oder weniger sofort oder nach Angabe der Adressdaten als Guthaben. (Beispiel: Movistar-Karte: 25 € Kosten, 19 € Sofortguthaben, 6 € bei Einsenden der Adresse.) Die Datennutzung ist mit einer spanischen Karte meist deutlich billiger als deutsche Tarife.
Neben wenigen Discountern und kleineren Mobilfunkanbietern gibt es In Spanien die drei großen Mobilfunkanbieter: Movistar, Vodafone und Orange.
landline
Telefónica (die "spanische Telekom") berechnet für einen Anruf nach Deutschland 11,87 Cent Einwahlgebühr und weitere 12 Cent pro Minute. Billiger kommt man jedoch in Call-Shops weg oder mit Calling Cards hin (in Supermärkten und Call-Shops zu finden). Ein System der Billigvorwahlen gibt es nicht, jedenfalls nicht im Wettbewerb.
Für internationale Gespräche gibt es aber die Möglichkeit zuerst die 902 999 007, dann nach der Ansage eine "1" und anschließend die internationale Nummer zu wählen. Die Kosten liegen deutlich unter denen der Telefónica, jedoch trotzdem immer über 4 Cent pro Minute. Weitere Informationen dazu gibt es hier (es, en, nl, de, fr).
post
Für Postkarten nach Deutschland muss man mit der Spanische Post Correos 1,25€ bezahlen (Stand 2017). Es ist in Postämtern üblich beim Eingang eine Nummer zu ziehen. Geöffnet ist in Städten oft bis 20.30 Es gibt jedoch in Dörfern auch kleine „Schalter,” die nur ein bis zwei Stunden 2-3 Mal pro Woche öffnen, da der eine „Beamte“ mehrere Ortschaften bedient und zugleich auch der Zusteller ist. Für Inlandsbriefe (Normalpreis 50 ¢, ca. 4 Arbeitstage) kann es durchaus sinnvoll sein, diese urgente zu versenden (2017: € 3,39), hierfür wird Zustellung am nächsten Tag garantiert.
In Spanien gibt es auch eine Reihe privaten Postnbieter, diese sind meistens teurer dafür aber oft schneller.
literature
Web links
Spanische Sprache:
Allgemeine Informationen zu Spanien:
- Directory of tourist offices aller Regionen Spaniens mit Adresse, Homepage und Online-Anfrage
